Injection needle for injecting woody plants

Abstract

The present invention includes a needle and method for injecting a fluid, such as a medicament, into a woody plant, e.g., trees, shrubs, or vines. In one embodiment, the needle includes a body having a proximal end, a distal end, an inner conduit extending from the proximal end towards the distal end, and at least one aperture in communication with the inner conduit and an outer surface of the body. An indentation in the outer surface of the body is provided where the aperture opens to the outer surface.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An injection needle for injecting a fluid into a woody plant comprising a body having a proximal end, a distal end, an inner conduit extending from the proximal end towards the distal end, and at least one aperture being in communication with the inner conduit and an outer surface of the body, there being an indentation in the outer surface of the body where the at least one aperture opens to the outer surface.  
     
     
         2 . The injection needle of  claim 1 , further including a second aperture extending from the inner conduit to the outer surface of the body, there being a second indentation in the outer surface of the body where the second aperture opens to the outer surface.  
     
     
         3 . The injection needle of  claim 2 , wherein a centerline of the at least one aperture and a centerline of the second aperture are colinear and form an angle of about 90 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of the body.  
     
     
         4 . The injection needle of  claim 2 , wherein the apertures are configured such that a wire can pass through the body.  
     
     
         5 . The injection needle of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end terminates in a point.  
     
     
         6 . The injection needle of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end terminates in a blade.  
     
     
         7 . The injection needle of  claim 1 , wherein the indentation includes a radius of curvature.  
     
     
         8 . The injection needle of  claim 1 , wherein the indentation includes a groove formed in at least part of the outer surface of the body.  
     
     
         9 . The injection needle of  claim 8 , wherein the groove includes at least one cross-sectional shape selected from the group consisting of C-shape, V-shape, a chamfer, and a bevel.  
     
     
         10 . The injection needle of  claim 1 , wherein the outer surface is countersunk to form the indentation.  
     
     
         11 . The injection needle of  claim 1 , wherein the body includes a first tapered portion extending from the proximate end toward the distal end.  
     
     
         12 . The injection needle of  claim 11 , wherein the body includes a substantially uniform cross-sectional diameter adjacent the at least one aperture.  
     
     
         13 . An injection needle for injecting a fluid into a woody plant comprising a body having a proximal end, a distal end, an inner conduit extending from the proximal end towards the distal end, and a first aperture and a second aperture in communication with the inner conduit and an outer surface of the body, centerlines of the first aperture and the second aperture being colinear.  
     
     
         14 . The injection needle of  claim 13 , wherein the outer surface includes indentations where the apertures open up to the outer surface.  
     
     
         15 . A method for injecting a fluid into a woody plant, the method comprising: 
 (a) providing an injection needle for injecting the fluid, the needle including a body having a proximal end, a distal end, an inner conduit extending from the proximal end towards the distal end, and a first aperture and a second aperture in communication with the inner conduit and an outer surface of the body, centerlines of the first aperture and the second aperture being colinear;    (b) inserting the needle into the woody plant; and    (c) injecting the fluid through the inner conduit of the needle and out of at least one of the apertures and into the woody plant, thereby injecting the fluid into the woody plant.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising providing an indentation in the body where the first and second apertures open up to the outer surface of the body.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising providing a substantially uniform cross-sectional diameter of the body adjacent the first and second apertures.  
     
     
         18 . A method for injecting a fluid into a woody plant, the method comprising: 
 (a) providing an injection needle for injecting the fluid, the needle including a body having a proximal end, a distal end, an inner conduit extending from the proximal end towards the distal end, and at least one aperture being in communication with the inner conduit and an outer surface of the body, there being an indentation in the outer surface of the body where the at least one aperture opens to the outer surface;    (b) inserting the needle into the woody plant; and    (c) injecting the fluid through the inner conduit of the needle and out of the at least one aperture and into the woody plant, thereby injecting the fluid into the woody plant.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising providing a substantially uniform cross-sectional diameter of the body adjacent the at least one aperture.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising providing a taper in the body from the proximal end toward the at least one aperture.